China hints at more talks on Azhar as India shares ‘proof’

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 22

India today shared with China all evidences of terrorist activities of Jaish-e-Mohammad and its leader Masood Azhar.

“It is now for the 1267 Sanctions Committee and other authorised bodies of the UN to take a decision on the listing of Masood Azhar,” said the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson shortly after Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale met two principal officials from the Chinese Foreign Ministry in Beijing.

“India will continue to pursue all available avenues to ensure that terrorist leaders who are involved in heinous attacks on our citizens are brought to justice,” he added.

The rendering of the meeting by the Chinese Foreign Office indicated that issues related to Azhar might not be close to resolution. “The shared interests between our two countries far outweigh the differences,” said the Chinese Foreign Office spokesperson when asked whether the two sides discussed Azhar’s listing and India’s boycott of the Second Belt and Road Summit to be held in Beijing later this week.

However, China also suggested that it was prepared to hold more talks on both the issues. “We hope the two sides can strengthen coordination and communication and keep the positive momentum of the sound development of bilateral relations. China stands ready to work with India to this end,” he observed.

The Foreign Secretary’s meetings at the Chinese Foreign Affairs Ministry have been billed as part of regular Sino-Indian diplomatic consultations. But they come ahead of a deadline served on Beijing by the US and two other countries for relaxing its technical hold on naming of Pulwama blast accused Masood Azhar.

The US, France and the UK have warned China that they will initiate the move towards a specific UN Security Council resolution on Azhar unless it lets go of the technical hold that has prevented him from being sanctioned.

The two sides also exchanged views on regional and international issues of common interest, including the Indo-Pacific, said an official news release.

‘Interests outweigh differences’

The shared interests between our two countries far outweigh the differences… We hope the two sides can strengthen coordination and communication and keep the positive momentum of sound development of bilateral relations.  
— Chinese Foreign Office spokesperson